Fastener driver with driver assembly blocking member

Abstract

A device for driving a plurality of fasteners includes a driver assembly having a drive block, a flywheel and a driver mount. The driver mount is configured to move between a first position where the flywheel is removed from the drive block and a second position where the flywheel engages the drive block. The device also includes a work contact element configured to move between an extended position and a depressed position. A blocking arm is connected to the work contact element and configured to move with the work contact element. The blocking arm is positioned in a path of movement of the driver mount when the work contact element is in the extended position. The blocking arm is removed from the path of movement of the driver mount when the work contact element is in the depressed position.

1. A device for driving a plurality of fasteners, the device comprising:
 a magazine configured to retain the plurality of fasteners; 
 a drive blade configured to contact a fastener retained by the magazine; 
 a driver member configured to impart an expulsion force to the drive blade that propels the drive blade to impact the fastener and expel the fastener from the magazine, the driver member configured to move along a path between a first position where the driver member is spaced apart from the drive blade and prevented from providing an the expulsion force and a second position where the driver member engages the drive blade to impart the expulsion force to the drive blade; 
 a work contact element moveable in a linear direction between an extended position and a depressed position; and 
 a blocking member connected to the work contact element and configured to move in the linear direction when the work contact element is moved in the linear direction, wherein the blocking member is positioned in the path of movement of the driver member and blocks the driver member from moving to the second position when the work contact element is in the extended position; 
 wherein the driver member comprises an actuator, a driver mount and a flywheel, the driver mount being movable along the path between the first and second positions, the flywheel being rotatably mounted to the driver mount and configured to impart the expulsion force to the drive blade, 
 wherein the drive blade includes a driver block, 
 wherein the flywheel is spaced apart from the driver block by the driver mount when the driver mount is in the first position, 
 wherein the flywheel is positioned in engagement with the driver block by the driver mount when the driver mount is in the second position, and 
 wherein the actuator is configured to urge the driver mount to move from the first position toward the second position. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein the blocking member is positioned in the path of movement of the driver mount when the work contact element is in the extended position, and
 wherein the blocking member is configured to move out of the path of movement of the driver mount when the work contact element is in the depressed position. 
 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2  further comprising a trigger moveable between a release position and a fire position, the actuator being configured to urge the driver mount toward the second position when the trigger is moved from the release position to the fire position. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3  wherein the actuator is a solenoid configured to contact a surface of the driver member. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1  wherein the blocking member comprises a blocking arm. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5  wherein the blocking arm comprises at least one finger configured for insertion into a slot in the driver mount when the work contact element is in the depressed position and the driver mount is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
       7. A device for driving a plurality of fasteners, the device comprising:
 a drive blade movable between a first position where the drive blade is spaced apart from the plurality of fasteners and a second position where the drive blade contacts one of the plurality of fasteners, the drive blade including a drive block attached thereto; 
 a driver assembly including a flywheel and a driver mount, the flywheel being rotatably mounted to the driver mount, the driver mount configured to move between a first position where the flywheel is removed from the drive block and a second position where the flywheel engages the drive block and propels the drive block and the drive blade from the first position to the second position; 
 a work contact element moveable between an extended position and a depressed position; and 
 a blocking arm connected to the work contact element and configured to move with the work contact element, 
 wherein the blocking arm is positioned in a path of movement of the driver mount when the work contact element is in the extended position and blocks the driver mount from moving to the second position, and 
 wherein the blocking arm is removed from the path of movement of the driver mount when the work contact element is in the depressed position such that the driver mount is free to move to the second position. 
 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7  wherein the driver assembly further comprises an actuator configured to urge the driver mount toward the second position when a trigger is pulled. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8  wherein the blocking arm includes a blocking surface configured to engage the driver mount when the trigger is pulled and the work contact element is in the extended position. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9  wherein the blocking surface of the blocking arm is configured to avoid engagement with the driver mount when the trigger is pulled and the work contact element is in the depressed position. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 8  wherein the actuator is a solenoid. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 7  wherein the blocking arm includes a finger dimensioned to fit in a slot on the blocking arm when the driver mount moves from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
       13. A device for driving a plurality of fasteners, the device comprising:
 a drive blade movable between a first position where the drive blade is spaced apart from the plurality of fasteners and a second position where the drive blade contacts one of the plurality of fasteners, the drive blade including a drive block attached thereto; 
 a driver assembly including a flywheel and a driver mount, the flywheel being rotatably mounted to the driver mount, the driver mount configured to move between a first position where the flywheel is removed from the drive block and a second position where the flywheel engages the drive block and propels the drive block and drive blade from the first position to the second position, the driver mount including a blocking surface; 
 a work contact element moveable between an extended position and a depressed position; and 
 a blocking arm connected to the work contact element and configured to move between a blocking position when the work contact element is in the extended position and a pass-by position when the work contact element is in the depressed position, the blocking arm including a blocking surface, 
 wherein the blocking surface of the blocking arm is configured to engage the blocking surface of the driver mount and block the driver mount from moving from the first position to the second position when the work contact element is in the extended position, and 
 wherein the blocking surface of the blocking arm is configured to avoid engagement with the blocking surface of the driver mount when the work contact element is in the depressed position. 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13  wherein the blocking surface of the blocking arm is provided on a finger of the blocking arm configured to fit within a slot on the driver mount when the blocking arm is in the pass-by position. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 13  wherein the blocking surface of the blocking arm is provided on a finger of the blocking arm configured to engage a surface of the driver mount when the blocking arm is in the blocking position. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 13  wherein the driver assembly further comprises an actuator configured to urge the driver mount toward the second position when a trigger is pulled.